Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to RecipeHero! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the RecipeHero mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service") operated by RecipeHero ("we," "us," or "our").

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these terms, then you may not access the Service.

2. Description of Service

RecipeHero is a recipe management and meal planning application that allows users to:

• Save and organize recipes from various sources
• Import recipes from photos, URLs, and text descriptions using AI-powered parsing
• Create and manage weekly meal plans
• Generate smart shopping lists based on recipes and meal plans
• Use cooking timers with alarms that work in the background
• Generate AI-powered recipe images
• Access recipes and meal plans across multiple devices via cloud sync

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of the Service, you may be required to create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for safeguarding the password and for maintaining the confidentiality of your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

3.3 Account Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account at any time, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including breach of these Terms.

4. User Content

4.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit, post, or display on or through the Service ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display, and distribute such content solely for the purpose of providing the Service.

4.2 Content Guidelines

You agree not to submit User Content that:

• Is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or offensive
• Violates any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights
• Contains viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Is spam or promotional content unrelated to recipes or meal planning

4.3 Content Removal

We reserve the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms or that we deem inappropriate, without prior notice.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which also governs your use of the Service, to understand our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information.

5.1 Data Storage

RecipeHero stores your data both locally on your device and in the cloud to enable synchronization across devices. You can manage your data through the app settings.

5.2 Data Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data. Please visit our Data Deletion page for more information on how to submit a deletion request.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Our Rights

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of RecipeHero and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws.

6.2 Third-Party Content

Some recipes and content may be sourced from third-party websites or services. We do not claim ownership of such content and respect the intellectual property rights of content creators.

7. Prohibited Uses

You may not use the Service:

• For any unlawful purpose or to solicit others to perform illegal acts
• To violate any international, federal, provincial, or state regulations, rules, laws, or local ordinances
• To transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material, including any "junk mail," "chain letter," "spam," or any other similar solicitation
• To impersonate or attempt to impersonate RecipeHero, our employees, another user, or any other person or entity
• To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the Service

8. Subscription and Payment Terms

8.1 Free and Premium Features

RecipeHero offers a free tier with core recipe management and on-device AI processing. Premium features — including meal planning, smart shopping lists, server-side AI processing, and AI image generation — require a Pro subscription or a Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) purchase.

8.2 Subscription Plans

Pro subscriptions are available as monthly or annual auto-renewable subscriptions. Pro subscribers receive 30 server AI credits per month. Credits reset at the beginning of each billing period and do not roll over to subsequent periods.

8.3 Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)

The BYOK option is a one-time, non-consumable purchase that allows you to use your own third-party API key (OpenAI or Google) for AI-powered features. BYOK does not include a subscription and does not provide server AI credits. You are solely responsible for any costs incurred through your third-party API provider.

8.4 Billing and Renewal

Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the rate of the selected plan.

8.5 Introductory Offers

RecipeHero may offer introductory pricing for new subscribers. Introductory pricing is available for eligible new subscribers only. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription.

8.6 Managing Subscriptions

You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Cancellation will take effect at the end of the current billing period. You will retain access to premium features until the end of your paid period.

8.7 Refunds

Refund policies are governed by the Apple App Store policies.

9. AI-Generated Content

9.1 Nature of AI Content

RecipeHero uses artificial intelligence to generate, parse, and enhance recipe content. AI-generated content includes but is not limited to: recipes created from text descriptions or photos, parsed recipe structures from imported URLs and images, and AI-generated recipe images. AI-generated content is provided for informational and inspirational purposes only.

9.2 Accuracy and Safety

RecipeHero does not guarantee the accuracy, safety, completeness, or suitability of any AI-generated recipe. AI models may produce incorrect ingredient quantities, omit important safety instructions, suggest inappropriate food combinations, or fail to identify allergens. You should always:

• Review AI-generated recipes for accuracy before cooking
• Verify ingredient quantities and cooking temperatures independently
• Check for allergens and dietary restrictions that the AI may not have identified
• Use your own judgment regarding food safety practices

9.3 AI Content Ownership

Recipes generated by AI features become part of your User Content and are subject to the same terms described in Section 4. You may use, modify, and share AI-generated recipes as you would any other recipe in your collection.

9.4 Third-Party AI Providers

When using BYOK or server-side AI features, your recipe data may be processed by third-party AI providers (currently OpenAI and Google). These providers' terms of service and usage policies apply to content processed through their services.

10. Disclaimers

10.1 Service Availability

We do not guarantee that the Service will be available at all times or that it will be free from errors, viruses, or other harmful components.

10.2 Recipe Information

All recipes — whether user-created, imported, or AI-generated — are provided for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any recipe, nutritional information, or cooking instruction. This disclaimer applies equally to AI-generated content and user-submitted content.

10.3 Health and Dietary Considerations

You are responsible for ensuring that recipes and meal plans are suitable for your dietary needs, allergies, and health conditions. AI-generated recipes may not account for all allergens or dietary restrictions. Always consult with healthcare professionals for dietary advice.

11. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall RecipeHero, its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from your use of the Service.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless RecipeHero and its licensee and licensors, and their employees, contractors, agents, officers and directors, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees).

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will cease immediately.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will try to provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion.

By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us regarding our Service and supersede any prior agreements.